My clean XR4 with a voltage issue

[nfitbh]

Very excited a couple of weeks ago to pick up an XR4. 2008 with only 34,000 kms on the clock!

Attachment 107766

One lady owner from new, full service history, serviced every year (even if she only did 200 kms in that year). No mods, the exterior and interior look almost showroom. (Engine bay has had less love, it will get that soon.)

Unfortunately was driving back from a mate's place (he lent me a ODB2 scanner) when suddenly the dash lit up like an Xmas tree and then the car cut out. Fortunately in a suburban area, I wasn't doing 110 or anything.

Well the scanner came in handy, showing 8V of charge.

And got towed home :(

car2.jpg

Have a charger, will use it overnight. If the battery holds charge then guessing it will be the alternator? If not, then new battery required?

Is it that simple?

[nfitbh]

Battery reading 12.4V (in car), so assuming it's time to fork out for a new alternator.

Any recommendations?

eBay's listings are all from Latvia, guessing Ford have a factory there?

[AMB]

Originally Posted by nfitbh

Battery reading 12.4 V (in car), so assuming it's time to fork out for a new alternator....

12.4 V is battery voltage (i guess you charged it up with a charger overnight), it should be a bit higher than that with a good battery after a proper charge, say 12.6 -12.7 V.
Did you measure the voltage at the battery with engine running? Should be around 14 Volts or more witha good alternator..

So yes the alternator may be dead, but its very strange that the alternator would fail after only 34,000km, so well worth making sure there is no loose or bad connections in the wires on the back of the alternator or on the battery. I would think its more likely the battery is dead from sitting around doing nothing for years, rather than being the alternator. So measure the alternator output when engine running.

[nfitbh]

Originally Posted by AMB

Did you measure the voltage at the battery with engine running? Should be around 14 Volts or more with a good alternator..

yeah, the voltage varied between 10.5V and 12.4V whilst running - measured using a ODB2 scanner.

probably completely unrelated, but for the last couple of days there's a bad smell coming (like burning rubber) from the engine bay and a bit of a whining noise, could be a belt problem?

anyway, next step mechanic, not going to drive a car around where the battery isn't accepting charge and a burnt rubber smell is coming from the engine bay lol